
that all, 'both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,' shall conform to
the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath. All who
refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be
declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God
enjoining the Creator's rest-day demands obedience, and threatens wrath
against all who transgress its precepts.
"With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample
upon God's law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast;
he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead
of God. The warning from Heaven is, 'If any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture
into the cup of His indignation.'
"--"The Great Controversy,"
pp. 604, 605.
10.
What power inspires the war against the remnant church? Rev.
12:7.
THE RECEIVING OF THE MARK
11.
Which of the angels' messages warns against receiving the mark
of the beast? Rev. 14:9, 10.
NOTE.
-"But
not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has
been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There
are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for
this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before
them in its true light. He who reads every heart, and tries every motive, will
leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues
of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly.
Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision,intelligently.
"The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth
especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men,
then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and
those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in com-
pliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will
be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping
of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the
Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers,
receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to
divine authority, receive the seal of God."—Id., p. 605.
12.
With what power will God's last great warning message be
proclaimed? Rev. 18:1.
NorE.—"I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the
earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some
important event. Then
I
saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend
to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force
to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as
he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended
this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice,
`Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold
of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.' The message
of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the
additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches
since 1844. The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last
( 36 1